Palestinian medical sources said that 16 Palestinian citizens received medical assistance, including four were admitted to hospitals for moderate wounds.

At first, the Israeli occupation forces raided the house of the Palestinian carpenter Ibrahim Ayyad from Abu-Dis. “They broke into my house and dragged me out, asking me to open the door of my carpentry,” Ayyad said.

“When I refused, they beat me and blew the main door of the carpentry, causing much damage,” he said. “A small fire was ignited, but my sons very quickly extinguished it,” he added.

Commenting on the demolition caused for the Palestinian shops, an Israeli army spokesperson reported by Israeli media claimed they were used for producing weapons.

The Palestinian owners of the shops denied this claims and challenged the Israeli occupation forces to provide any proof.

US is is also accused of being part of the conspiracy, Dankof claimed.

Days of Palestine -In a recent TV interview, former US Senate candidate Mark Dankof has said that he has proof that Israel orchestrated 9/11 attacks on the US.

Commenting on the Saudi’s role in supporting the 9/11 attacks, Dankof told the broadcaster that Israel were the chief player in organising the attacks.

“When we get to 9/11, there are series of clues and series of explanations that have been provided for us; they really get in the bottom of the fact that it was Israel that was the chief player in calling up 9/11,” he told Press TV on Saturday.

Evidence of Israel’s role, according to Dankof, is spelled out in a book called Israel Did It and in an article published by the Council of Foreign Affairs in 1998 that explains Israel’s motivations for being the “driving force” behind an attack of such proportions.

A New York Times report on Friday, citing US officials and congressional aides, said the Obama administration has been lobbying Congress to block legislation allowing American courts to hold Saudi authorities responsible for any role in the attacks.

Such legislation would include the right to freeze Saudi assets in the US, but the Congress delayed the motion fearing Saudi similar response.

The victims’ families, according to the report, accuse the current and former administrations of covering up Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the attacks in order to “protect US-Saudi relations.”

Dankof, however, said: “When you look at this entire situation, the United States government is interested in trying out the 9/11 event in terms of propaganda purposes.”

He argued that Washington is “more than happy to allow these families to appeared [sic] official events that might support the government propaganda line of who and what was behind 9/11.”

“The American people will continue to have a complete misunderstanding of who the real enemies are or why we are likely to be in a war after the American 2016 elections,” he concluded.

Dankof also accused the US government of covering up its involvement in the Kennedy assassination.

“The timing of the closures and their multiple nature also raise concerns that it may be an act of collective punishment, which international law forbids,” the statement explained

Days of Palestine, West Bank –Israeli occupation closed down about 35 Palestinian quarries in West Bank last month, confiscated millions of dollars’ worth of equipment, HRW said on Thursday.

“The crackdown, which has paralysed the quarries, puts the livelihoods of up to 3,500 workers at risk and highlights the discriminatory nature of Israeli rules for Palestinian quarries, which have been unable to obtain new licenses for more than 20 years,” a statement by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.

According to the statement, the Israeli military authorities closed the quarries near the village of Beit Fajar on March 21, four days after a reported stabbing of Israeli soldier in the area.

“The timing of the closures and their multiple nature also raise concerns that it may be an act of collective punishment, which international law forbids,” the statement explained.

“The Israeli military has promised to facilitate Palestinian economic development, but instead it is choking a Palestinian-run industry in the West Bank while promoting the same industry in Israeli settlements,” said Sari Bashi, Israel and Palestine director at HRW.

No permits

“Justifying the closures, the Israeli military, which has ruled the occupied West Bank for nearly 50 years, told HRW in a letter that the quarries were operating without permits and posed safety and environmental hazards.

“However, since 1994, the military has systematically refused to issue permits for Palestinian quarries, even as it allocated large swaths of land in the West Bank for quarries in Israeli settlements operating in violation of international law.”

HRW explained: “Issuing permits for Palestinian quarries, and then enforcing reasonable safety and environmental standards, is the way to address any safety or environmental concerns, rather than arbitrarily denying permits and then shutting down unlicensed quarries.”

It added: “The timing of the closures raises concerns that the Israeli authorities may be punishing village residents for acts they did not commit.”

Collective punishment

The human rights organisation said that the Israeli occupation authorities stole millions of USD worth equipment from the Palestinian queries.

“The military raided the Palestinians quarries, confiscating millions of dollars’ worth of equipment,” HRW said, noting that the last time the military raided quarries and confiscated equipment in the area was on November 25, 2015.

Referring to reported an Israeli female settler expected to be killed by a Palestinians, the organisation said: “The killing of a passerby is a serious crime whose perpetrator should be held accountable. However, Israeli authorities must not punish those who had nothing to do with it.”

Regarding the timing, the military authorities said “the operation was carried out once all conditions for its execution were in place, including resource availability and as per priorities.”

It also said: “International humanitarian law, applicable in occupied territory, forbids punishing people for acts they did not commit and requires Israel to facilitate normal civilian life for Palestinians to the extent possible, including economic development.”

To exploit the principles of war for our purpose and base ourselves upon (the) strategic indirect approach, so as to determine the issue of the fighting even before fighting has begun, it is necessary to achieve the three following aims:

a. to cut the enemy’s lines of communications, thus paralyzing his physical build-up;

b. to seal him off from his lines of retreat, thus undermining the enemy’s will and destroying his morale;

c. to hit his centers of administration and disrupt his communications, thus severing the link between his brain and limbs.

Reflection on these three aims proves the truth of Napoleon’s saying: ‘The whole secret of the art of war lies in the ability to become the master of the lines of communication.’”

General Yigael Yadin
Chief of the General Staff,
Israeli Forces Journal, September 1949⁠1

1 B.H. Liddell Hart, Strategy, Signet 1974, page 387.

The radical Israeli settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron present what is certainly a candidate for being the ugliest face of Israel’s creeping annexation of of the West Bank. The expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has reached a point that renders the so-called Two State Solution an impossibility. General Yadin’s comments on the strategy of the indirect approach may have been made in the context of the 1948 Arab Israeli War, but they go a long way toward understanding Israel’s strategy for solving its Palestinian Question in the Occupied Territories.

Of course, in Israel’s eyes, the two state solution was never a serious consideration — not even during the heady days of the Oslo Peace Process in the early 1990s. On 5 October 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Rabin laid out his case for ratifying the Oslo II Accord in a speech to the Knesset. Rabin described Israel’s goals for the agreement. He explicitly rejected the idea of a binational state and stated clearly that Israel wanted a permanent solution that would include: (1) a “Palestinian entity” that would be “less than a state,” (2) a “united Jerusalem” as the Israel’s capital, and (3) “blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria.”

Figure 1 (below) shows that Rabin’s vision is now in place, or as Israeli’s like to say, it is a reality established by ‘facts on the ground.’

The graphic on the left side of Figure 1 depicts the buildup of settlers in the Occupied Territories since the 1967 War. The black line represents the total while the blue line represents the buildup in the West Bank. The difference between them represents primarily the buildup in East Jerusalem, but it also also includes the twenty thousand or so settlers in the Golan Heights and the settlers in Gaza (before Israel evacuated all 7,800 settlers from Gaza in 2005).

Figure 1: West Bank Settlements: Population Growth and Pattern of Settlement.

Note of clarification on Figure 1: The number of settlers in East Jerusalem has long been disputed. On 5 January 2015, Ahuva Balofsky reported in Breaking Israeli News that the Israeli Interior Ministry released data showing that 389,250 Jews living in the West Bank and another 375,000 live in East Jerusalem. These numbers are plotted for 2014 in Figure 1 and they suggest a substantial acceleration in East Jerusalem settlements. The total numbers for 2014 are roughly consistent with the total released in May 2014 by the Israel’s Construction and Housing Minister Uri Ariel, who said the Jewish population in East Jerusalem was somewhere between 300,000 and 350,0000 and the number of settlers in the West Bank was about 400,000. Ariel went on to predict that in five years that latter number would increase to as much as 600,000. So, while there is no doubt that the rate of settlement is accelerating, Figure 1 may exaggerate the appearance of the recent acceleration, because earlier levels for East Jerusalem may have been understated.

The red areas in the map on the right side of Figure 1 depict the settlement locations in the West Bank. The three areas delineated in the Oslo accords are distinguished by color:

Area A – brown: the Palestinian Authority (PA) is assigned control of security and administration (except with Israel makes periodic incursions to fight people it deems to be terrorists).

Area B – tan: Israeli control of security; PA control of administration

Area C – blue: Complete Israeli control. Area C comprises 60% of the land area of the West Bank and 80% of the water in the aquifers under the West Bank (more below).

At least seven points are worth noting with regard to Figure 1: (1) The rate of settlement growth accelerated after the 1979 US-brokered Camp David Agreement. Camp David not only removed Egypt from the Arab-Israeli Conflict but also resulted in Egypt’s complicity in the maintenance of the Gaza blockade. (2) The US brokered Oslo Accords (triggered by the 1st Intifada) and its US-brokered successors (e.g., the now-forgotten roadmap for peace, triggered by the 2nd Intifada) had no effect on the rate of settler growth in the Occupied Territories. (3) Notwithstanding soaring rhetoric of President Obama’s Cairo speech and his tepid criticisms of Israel’s settlement program, the rate of settler growth accelerated again after President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu took office, especially in East Jerusalem, but also in the Area C.

Turning to the right side of the figure: (4) The vast majority of Palestinians now live in Areas A & B (many having migrated into these areas from Area C) and are divided up into separated cantons surrounded by Area C. (5) Israeli settlements, a network of Israeli-only access roads connecting the settlements (not shown) and a system of Palestinian check points controlling entry and exit at the canton boundaries carve up the cantons into disconnected bits and pieces. (7) Moreover, with the exception of isolated Jericho canton just north of the Dead Sea, all the Palestinian areas are well west of the Jordan border with a network of settlements and the Israeli only access roads as well the Dead Sea separating the Palestinians from the Jordan, the nearest Arab state. In short, the Palestinian “entity” is cutoff and surrounded by Israel. And that central fact, dear reader, is why Figure 1 is an exemplar how the Yadin strategy fits the occupation like a hand fits a glove.

While the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008 raised the world’s hopes for a more balanced approach to the Palestinian Question, Figure 1 shows Israeli settlements actually accelerated during his Presidency, making a formal Israeli annexation of Area C a likely possibility (as Israel has already done with the Golan Heights of Syria and Jerusalem). Not only have the Palestinian controlled areas been reduced to an irrational disconnected patchwork that defies any logic for integration into a coherent governable entity, Figure 2 below shows how the pattern of settlements and the Israeli-only roads connecting them have established Israeli control of the West Bank’s water resources.

Figure 2: West Bank Settlements vs. Water

The blue arrows in left side of Figure 2 show the underground flows of water as winter rains are collected in the aquifers under the West Bank and relates this to the pattern of Israeli settlements as the Palestinian areas. The right side overlays the underground aquifers on this data. The dark blue regions (labeled 1, 2, and 3) depict the highest quality fresh-water pumping areas. The light blue areas depict areas of lower quality but viable pumping. The redish-orange areas portray areas of poor pumping. Israel controls how these different areas are pumped. This report (also referenced above), describes how this control is exercised. Today, over one-third of Israel’s fresh water budget comes from the aquifers under the West Bank’s highlands. In so doing doing, Israel (including its settlements) consumes more than 80% of the annual recharge of these aquifers, leaving only 20% for the Palestinians. (Readers interested in the water question will find a more detailed analysis at this link.)

The United States has been culpable in Israel’s colonization of the West Bank — not only by acquiescing to the creeping annexation depicted in Figures 1 and 2, but also in the financing of Israel’s efforts. This brings us back to Hebron. The report, “Why is Goldman Sachs funding the violent, racist Jewish settlers in Hebron,” in one of Israel’s most prestigious newspapers, Ha’aretz, is the tip of a funding iceberg of American funding of illegal settlements — e.g., see Ha’aretz’s 7 December 2015 special report here.

Ha’aretz just reported that President Obama is proposing to prop up Israel with a $40 billion military aid package over the next 10 years, including $3.7 billion this first year, then increasing steadily over the 10 years of the plan. Israel is not happy with this offer, because President Obama has added a condition to this offer: Israel must promise not to lobby Congress for any additional aid during the decade that the deal is in force. The Ha’aretz report is silent on any condition to roll back or restrict the rate of growth of settlement activity.

With the possible exception of Bernie Sanders, American complicity in Israel’s solution Palestinian question is not at issue in the current presidential election. This can be seen in the obsequious speeches to the recent AIPAC conference made by all the other candidates.
So Israel’s creeping annexation of the West Bank and its lock of the West Bank’s water resources will continue unabated, in part financed by tax deductible donations from the US, and propped up by increased military aid.

Mufeed al-Hasayneh, minister of public works and housing, told Al-Monitor that 97% of the rubble from the homes destroyed has been removed. The remaining rubble is from large buildings, such as the so-called Italian tower in the center of Gaza City, the Awda food factory in central Gaza and the Zu’rob Tower in Rafah.

Hasayneh said that the project would cost some $14 million. Of that amount, the United States has provided $10 million, and other donors, including Sweden, contributed $3.2 million.

Omran al-Kharroubi, manager of the UNDP’s Rubble and Debris Removal project, told Al-Monitor that an estimated 1.1 million tons of rubble have been removed to allocated areas east of Rafah, in southern Gaza, and to Johr al-Deek, east of Gaza City. The rubble collected will be recycled and reused for infrastructure projects.

“The crews that worked on the ground to remove the rubble have faced numerous obstacles during their work, including the presence of suspicious objects in buildings,” Kharroubi said. “International explosive specialists removed 3,000 suspicious objects, including unexploded ordnance.”

Kharroubi added, “Other obstacles we faced involved the removal equipment required. Israel has allowed the entry of only three pieces of equipment out of a large list, following a request submitted a year ago. This forced the workers to use old and dilapidated equipment, thus delaying the project’s completion.”

A project to recycle and reuse the rubble, also funded by the UNDP, has begun, Kharroubi said, with 150,000 tons of rubble thus far having been crushed.

Osama Kahil, head of the Palestinian Contractors Union, told Al-Monitor that 40 to 50 Palestinian construction companies are participating in the rubble removal under UNDP supervision. Kahil said that about a month ago the union sent a request to Israel to import spare parts and equipment for rubble removal and to erect new buildings, but so far they have not received an answer.

“Israel claims that equipment such as bulldozers and diggers has dual uses, meaning that it can be used to remove and build buildings in addition to building military tunnels into Israel by the Palestinian resistance,” said Kahil.

Mahmoud Jehjouh and Sons, a contracting and general trading firm, submitted a bid of $550,000 to remove some of the rubble in Gaza City. The company director, Maher Jehjouh, told Al-Monitor that the UNDP program trained about 60 of his workers before the project got underway.

“Our company was able to fully remove the rubble of about 150 houses in Gaza City,” said Jehjouh. “We removed thousands of tons of rubble. The UNDP requires that extracted cement blocks not exceed 50 x 50 centimeters so that they can be crushed and converted into usable materials. We were given seven months to finish the job, but we finished it in five.”

Baha al-Agha, general director of the Environmental Protection Department, told Al-Monitor that the project has several environmental benefits because it involves a lot of recycling. Agha explained that his department, in collaboration with the UNDP and the Energy Authority, inspect the rubble to make sure that it is free from radiation that can harm people and the environment.

It will take Gaza one and a half years, with international assistance, to remove all the rubble from the war. The question now is when the reconstruction process will be finished. The process is proceeding very slowly, with $5.4 billion in pledges still outstanding. Only 3,000 houses have been constructed, during the wait for financial assistance arrive and pressure on Israel to allow the entry of construction materials. Last year Oxfam estimated that at the current rate, Gaza’s reconstruction will take 100 years due to inadequate funding and ongoing siege.

Armed settlers overlook a Palestinian village south of Nablus during confrontations following the setting on fire of Palestinian-owned fields on Jan. 1, 2010

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israel’s Shin Bet security agency recently uncovered a “Jewish terrorist ring” which carried out a number of acts of violence targeting Palestinians in the northern occupied West Bank, Israeli security services revealed on Wednesday.At least seven right-wing Israeli extremists were arrested earlier this month after being suspected of belonging to a ring which committed a number of anti-Palestinian acts, Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said in a statement after an Israeli authorities-issued gag order was lifted on the case.The suspects include a 19-year-old Israeli soldier, two 20-year-old men, and a 17-year-old, the police statement added.Israeli media identified some of the Israelis arrested as Pinhas Shendrofi, 22, from the illegal settlement of Kyriat Arba, and Itamar Ben Aharon and Michael Kaplan from the settlement of Nahliel in the central West Bank.Israeli daily Haaretz reported that two minors and the soldier, whose identities were prohibited from publication under an Israeli military court gag order, were brothers from Nahliel belonging to the Shendrofi family. Yigal Shendrofi, the suspects’ father, is a rabbi linked to Israel’s extremist right wing, Haaretz added.The Israeli army declined to comment on the case of the soldier suspected of belonging to the ring.Al-Samri said the suspects confessed to attacking an elderly Palestinian farmer in June with rods and pepper spray, as well as hurling Molotov cocktails and tear gas canisters at Palestinian homes in November and December. They also admitted to torching Palestinian cars and tagging racist slogans such as “death to Arabs” on Palestinian property.The ring members said they were in part “inspired by the Duma arson attack,” the police statement added, in reference to a deadly attack in the northern West Bank village of Duma in July by extremist Israeli settlers, which killed an 18-month-old baby and his parents, with a four-year-old boy remaining the only survivor of the fire.However, Israeli news site Ynet reported that the suspects were also being investigated for acts dating back as far as 2008.A lawyer from Zionist legal aid organization Honenu, which is representing the suspects in the case, downplayed the accusations against them.“In contrast with all sorts of rumors and half-publications, most of the offenses investigated in this matter involve no harm to human life, and most are no more than a scuffle between people,” Ynet quoted Aharon Roza as saying, before condemning the fact that the suspects have allegedly not been given proper access to an attorney.Meanwhile, the organization Rabbis for Human Rights hailed the arrests, while similarly expressing concern over the treatment of the suspects.“This is a positive sign that the security forces are taking Jewish terrorism against Palestinians seriously,” the organization said in a statement. “In the cases where Palestinian farmers are attacked and threatened by Israeli extremists, we often see incompetence of the security forces and sometimes even indirect or direct support of the attackers.”“Allegations of improper legal proceedings against Jewish suspects — such as the denying of legal counsel — need to also be thoroughly investigated,” the Israeli organization added. “Even a positive step cannot rely on improper procedures.”Over 500,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law, with recent announcements of settlement expansion provoking condemnation from the international community.Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is common but rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.The Israeli court system has received international criticism for its longstanding policy of immunity for Israeli forces and settlers, while Palestinians hold widespread distrust for the system.A joint investigation by Israeli rights group B’Tselem and Hamoked earlier this year reported that Israel’s court system routinely postpones or slows down investigations regarding violations against Palestinians, with the intent of pushing families or individuals to eventually drop their case.

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (14 – 20 April 2016).

Shooting:

Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian from al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron and wounded 12 Palestinian civilians; one of whom was wounded in the West Bank, 8 were wounded in the West Bank and the 3 others were wounded in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, a Palestinian woman was wounded due to the explosion of a suspicious object of the Israeli military remnants.

In the West Bank, in a new crime of excessive use of force, on 14 April 2016, Israeli forces killed Ibrahim Abu ‘Ayyash (54) from al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. Israeli forces claimed that Abu ‘Ayyash was carrying a sharp tool and heading towards the Israeli soldiers stationed at the camp entrance. His corpse was taken by an Israeli Magen David Adom (MDA) to an unknown destination after the Palestinian medical crews were denied access to him. On the following day afternoon, the corpse was handed to the Palestinian military liaison, and his funeral procession was held in the camp.

On 14 April 2016, a Palestinian boy was wounded when Israeli forces moved into East Barta’ah village, west of Jenin. They surrounded two different facilities in a prelude to demolish them. Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered to prevent them from demolishing the facilities and threw stones at the soldiers. The Israeli soldiers in response fired ter gas canisters and sound bombs at the stone-throwers to disperse them. As a result one of them was directly hit with a gas canister.

On 20 April 2016, 8 Palestinian civilians were wounded in Qalednia refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem when the Israeli forces moved into the camp to demolish the house of Hussein Abu Ghosh. Three of them sustained live bullet wounds and were transferred to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah while the five others sustained metal bullet wounds and received medical treatment.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 3 Palestinian civilians, including a fisherman and two protestors. Meanwhile a woman was wounded due to the explosion of a suspicious object of the Israeli military remnants.

As part of Israeli attacks on fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, On 19 April 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off Rafah shore, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire and fired metal bullets at a number of Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 8 nautical miles off the shore. As a result, one of the fishermen was hit with metal bullets throughtpuit his bodies while 5 others were arrested by Israeli forces. Moreover, Israeli forces confiscated a fishing boat and sank another.

As part of the use of force against Palestinian civilians participating in the protest s against Israeli forces in the vicinity of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, on 14 April 2016, two Palestinian civilians were wounded; one of whom sustained a live bullet wound to the left leg, east of al-Shuja’iyah, east of Gaza City while the other one sustained a live bullet wound to the abdomen, east of al-Bureij in the central Gaza Strip.

On 18 April 2016, Ilham Abu ‘Aser (32) from al-Shuja’iyah neighbourhood, east of Gaza City sustained shrapnel wounds to the left foot due to the explosion of a suspicious object believed to be from the Israeli military remnants in al-Nazzaz Street in the aforementioned neighbourhood.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 61 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 13 ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 103 Palestinian civilians, including 24 children and 3 young women. Fifty-nine of them, including 21 children and a young woman, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

During the reporting period, on 13 April 2016, Israeli forces raided al-‘Ajouli Exchange Company in Souq al-Khodar building belonging to al-Bireh municipality. The Israeli soldiers forced the company’s owners to open the main door and raided and searched it. They also confiscated computers and documents before planting explosive materials in an attempt to open the big safe, which contains a lot of money and other documents related to their work. As a result, the safe was burnt and the office caught fire as well in adiition to nearby shops in the area and in the same building.

Restrictions on movement:

Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

Jewish Majority

In the context of house demolitions, on 20 April 2016, Israeli moved into Qaelndia refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hussein Abu Ghosh and destroyed the internal walls by a bulldozer. It should be mentioned that Abu Ghosh (17) was killed by Israeli forces on 25 January 2016 after he and Ibrahim ‘Allan (22) carried a stabbing attack in “Beit Horon” settlement, west of Ramallah. As a result, a settler was killed and another was wounded.

In the context of house demolitions and demolition notices, on 15 April 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with Israeli municipality staffs moved into a number of neighbourhoods uin Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem. The staff members distributed administrative demolition orders in the village after taking photos of some of its neighbourhoods and entrances in addition to houses and facilities. On 16 April 2016, joint crews from the Israeli municipality and Israeli forces moved into Silwan village again and distributed 18 administrative demolition notices in al-Bustan neighbourhood in the village in addition to taking photos of its neighbourhoods and streets.

As part of targeting the NGOs in the city, on 13 April 2016, Israeli forces raided al-Hakawati Palestinian National Theatre and handed its administration a decision signed by the Israeli Minister of Intenral Security, Gilad Ardan, to close it for one day under the pretext of holding an event sponsored by the Palestinian Authority. It should be mentioned that the final ceremony for the project of “An apprenticeship for the graduates of vocational and technical training in Jerusalem – project of employing the youth” was supposed to be held at Al-Hakawati. Moreover, handicraft items made by Jerusalemite females were supposed to be exhibited in Al-Hakawati hall.

Settlement activities:

On 14 April 2016, Israeli forces demolished two civil facilities in East Barta’ah, which isolated from its surrounding due to the annexation wall, west of Jenin. The first facility belongs to Basem ‘Aamrnah (34) while the second belongs to Mustafa Qabha (47).

On the same day, Israeli bulldozers levelled an 80-cubic-meter wall belonging to Saleh Nemer (34) in Abu Sawadah area, east of al-Arrouub refugee camp, north of Hebron.

On 14 April 2016, a group of Israeli settlers severely beat Zuhair Abu Khdeir (64) while being at work in West Jerusalem. His son said that his father sustained fractures in his nose, bruises in the head and face and his eyes were swollen. As a result, he was taken to the hospital and the wound in his nose required stitches.

Details

Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 14 April 2016

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Qabatiya village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Wesam Ahmed Khalil Abu al-Rub (20) and then arrested Wesam. Later, they raided a house belonging to Tamer Maher Sadeq Abu al-Rub (21) and arrested him as well.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Burqin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Mo’en Mohammed Suboh (20) and arrested him.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They raided a house belonging to Jamal Fares Mohammed Mur’eb (50). They also raided and searched a house belonging to a leader in the Islamic Jehad Movement, Bassam Ragheb Abdul Karem al-Sa’di (56) and the house of his brother Ghassan (52). Following that, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Faisal Ersan Qareni (19) and arrested him.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Kafr Dan village, northwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Amer Naser Saoud Abu Zaid (27) and arrested him. They then raided and searched a house belonging to Arqam Tayser Mahmoud al-Jamal (28) and then arrested him too.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Yabud village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tawfeq Abdullah Maslamani (59) and arrested his sons Ahmed (26) and Sohaib (23). However, Israeli forces released them later.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Hijrah village, east of Dora, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Ishaq Abu Hashhash (19). They then arrested Abu Hashhash (19) and took him to an unknown destination.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Erq al-Tout area, east of Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched two shops and broke the main doors using special equipment. They also confiscated 2 recording devices of the surveillance cameras belonging to Mohammed Hasan al-Khateb and Eyad Mohammed Yasen al-Laham form Surif village.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched 2 houses form which they arrested Anas Hani Hamdi (27) and Ahmed Ali Haj Ali (22).

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Ennab (25) and then arrested him.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Ein Senia village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Othman Asa’ad Thaher (23) and then arrested him.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Kharsa village, south of Dora, southwest of Hebron, and stationed in al-Namous area, west of the village. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mustafa Ismael Safi (37) and then arrested him. At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Haninah area in the city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Jamal Husain al-Awawrah (38) and then arrested him. Israeli forces withdrew later to “Adorim” camp, east of Dora, and informed the families of the two arrested civilians that they are in “Kfar Etzion” detention centre, south of Bethlehem.

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military jeeps and the police moved into Ramallah and al-Birah and stationed in the vicinity of al-Manarah square. They brought one of the owners of al-Ajouli Exchange Company, Ghazi al-Ajouli (63) who was arrested on the previous day and taken to “Benjamin” police station, southeast of Ramallah. They ordered him to call his son Moayad (32) to bring the company’s keys and arrested him when he came. They then raided and searched the company’s head office and confiscated some PC sets and files. They also put explosives to open a large safe inside of which there were money, files and documents related to their business causing fire inside the safe. After that, the Palestinian civil defence vehicles arrived, but the Israeli forces hindered their way. At approximately 04:30, after Israeli forces withdrew, the civil defence crews began to put out fire that was set to al-Ajouli Exchange Company and number of shops in the upper floor of the building where the company is located.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Tubas. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Adham Atef Abu Siaj (23) and then arrested him.

In excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian (54) claiming that he was holding a sharp tool and moving towards Israeli soldiers stationed at the entrance of al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 15:00, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, shot Ibrahim Mohammed Saber Abu Ayash (54) form the camp. As a result, Ibrahim suffered wounds throughout his body and immediately died. Israeli Magen David Adom’s (MDA) ambulance took Ibrahim’s corpse to an unknown destination and prevented the Palestinian ambulance crew from approaching. On Friday evening, 15 April 2016, Ibrahim’s corpse was delivered to the Palestinian liaison office. It should be noted that the funeral procession took place in the refugee camp. The Israeli forces claimed that Ibrahim was holding a sharp tool and moving towards the Israeli soldiers stationed at the entrance of al-Aroub refugee camp.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Ethna, Nubah, Emirsh villages and al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron.

Friday, 15 April 2016

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Duma village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested Mohammed Akram Hasan Darawshah (22) and Mahmoud Abdul Fatah Mohammed Salawdah (24).

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Qaryuot village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested Thaer Mostafa al-Mardawi (22), who is a student in al-Rawdah college in Nablus, and Asem Mahmoud al-Mardawi (22).

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Ommar, Beit Kahel and al-Samou’ villages in Hebron.

Saturday, 16 April 2016

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Ethna, Nuba, Emrish villages and al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron.

Sunday, 17 April 2016

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into several neighbourhoods in Hebron. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested Atah Yaqin al-Atrash (22), Mo’en Mohammed Siyaj (20), Amjad Ahmed Fathallah Salhab (20) and Jebril Abdul Rahman Abu Sunainah (30).

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Our al-Tahtah village, southwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Montaser Ahmed Sulaiman (16) and then arrested him.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Marah Rabah village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of the former prisoner Ahmed Qasem al-Shaikh (56) and then arrested him.

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ommar village, northwest of Hebron, and stationed in al-Biyadah neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Rashed Yusuf Bader Awad (17) and then arrested him. In the meanwhile, another Israeli force raided and searched a house belonging to Ali Ayad Awad (45) and handed a summons to his son Hamzah (20) to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem.

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Abdul Hamid Mahmoud Hamed (22) and locked the family in one of the house rooms. Moreover, an Israeli soldier attacked Abdul Hamid’s mother, pushed her and prevented her from approaching Abdul Hamid. They then arrested him. It should be mentioned that the arrested civilian is a third year student in Al-Quds Open University.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Dora, Bani Naim, Sa’ir, Tafouh and al-Majd villages in Hebron.

Monday, 18 April 2016

At approximately 12:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Zain Sayel Essa (21) and Qasem Yasen Essa (20) and handed them summonses to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement complex, south of the city.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Birzeit, Sangal, Kharbatha al-Mesbah and Betellu villages in Ramallah and al-Birah and Fasayil village, north of Jericho.

Tuesday, 19 April 2016

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Abu Mesha’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Abdullah Darwesh and then arrested his daughter Nour (22). They also confiscated 2 iPads and 2 cell phones form Nour and her brother. Israeli forces took her to “Maskubyya” investigation centre in occupied Jerusalem without allowing her to change her clothes. It should be mentioned that Nour is a physiotherapy student in al-Quds (Abu Dees) University.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into several neighbourhoods in Hebron. They raided and searched three houses and forced their owners to leave them. They also arrested 3 civilians, including a child, and took them to an unknown destination. The arrested civilians were identified as Eyad Jamil Abu Sunainah (23), Ibrahim Sa’ed Abu Romuz (16) and Motaz Ali al-Mohtaseb (26).

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Kader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yusuf Atwan and then arrested his wife Majd (22).

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Kafr Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Osamah Fadel Obaid (22) and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service. They also raided and searched several houses from which they arrested Ayman Abdul Karem Burham (40) and Ahmed Dawoud Aqel (20) but they were not able to arrest Mohammed Majed Abdul Mo’men Jom’ah (20). Moreover, they handed Jom’ah’s family a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service. At approximately 09:00 on the same day, Jom’ah went to the Israeli intelligence service where he was arrested.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched 2 houses from which they arrested Morad Mohammed Taqatqah (23) and Walid Essa Taqatqah (21).

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Awah village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdul Rahim Mahmoud Awad (20) and then arrested him.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off Rafah shore, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing about 8 nautical miles off the fishing port. As a result, a fisherman was hit with metal bullets throughout his body. Medical sources classified his injury as moderate. Moreover, Israeli gunboats chased two of the fishing boats and arrested 5 fishermen that were on board. The arrested fishermen were identified as Mostafa Mohammed Khalil al-Najar (29), Odai Hasan Khalil al-Najar (20) and Ahmed Kamal Oudah Abu Muhsen (20) and the two brothers Mohammed Jehad Reziq Musleh (26) and Bilal (21). Mohammed Jehad Mesleh said that at approximately 19:00, he and the 4 others were released via Beit Hanoun crossing but his boat remained in custody. However, the boat of al-Najjar family was drowned in the sea as it was hit with live bullets to the bow when Israeli gunboats chased the fishermen.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (11) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Shuwaikah Suburb, north of Tulkarm; al-Jafatlak and al-Dyouk villages, north of Jericho; Jeet village, northeast of Qalqiliyah; Bani Naim, Sa’ir, Hadab al-Fawar, Sekat al-Burj and Deir al-Asal villages in Hebron.

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Faroun village, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Moneer Naim Mahmoud Edwan (40) and then arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Shaqbah village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Adnan Ahmed Awad Shalash (38) and then arrested him.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Zubaidat village, north of Jericho. They raided and searched 2 houses from which they arrested Eyad Mohammed Abed Zubaidat and Mohammed Omar Mohammed Zubaidat (24).

A Woman from al-Shujaiyah neighbourhood was wounded due to the explosion of a suspicious object

At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 18 April 2016, Elham Mohammed Essa Abu Aser (32), form al-Shujaiyah neighbourhood, east of Gaza city, was transferred to al-Shifa’ Hospital suffering from shrapnel wounds in the left leg.

According to the statement of her husband, Diyab Rebhi Abu Aser, Elham went out of their house located in al-Nazaz Street in al-Shujaiyah neighbourhood. She was walking in Hittin dust road when Diyab heard an explosion and then saw her left leg bleeding. Passers-by transported her to the hospital where she underwent a surgery to remove the shrapnel. It was found out that she stepped on a suspicious object of the Israeli military remnants, due to which that object exploded.

Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

West Bank:

Following the Friday prayer, on 15 April 2016, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized protests against the Israeli policies in the oPt at the western entrance to Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, and in the vicinity of “Ofer” prison, southwest of the city. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protestors by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

Gaza Strip:

At approximately 14:30, on Friday, 15 April 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shuja’iyah neighbourhood, east of the Gaza Strip. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed along the fence. The Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers opened fire at the protesters. As a result, Ra’ed Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Abed Rabbo al-Dahdouh (27) was hit with a live bullet to the left leg and then taken to al-Shifa Hospital, where doctors classified his wound as moderate.

Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The protesters threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed along the fence, due to which, the soldiers opened fire at them. As a result, Mohammed Yousef Abu Thurayah (34) was hit with a live bullet to the abdomen and then taken to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where his wound was classified as moderate.

Demonstrations against the annexation wall and settlement activities

Following the Friday prayers, on 15 April 2016, dozens of Palestinians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah; al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of city; and Kufor Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and chased the protesters into the olive fields and between houses. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

At approximately 13:30, on Friday, Palestinians civilians, national forces, and international human rights defenders organised a demonstration from the centre of Dirastiya village, northwest of Salfit, and then headed to Abu Naser valley Bypass Road, west of the city. The protesters organized the demonstration in protest against establishing iron barriers in the abovementioned road and isolating 12,000 dunums of agricultural lands. Israeli forces fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters and sprayed pepper spray at them. As a result, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and received medial treamtment on the spot. Whereas 3 other civilians were taken to Yaser ‘Arafat Hospital in Salfit due to being sprayed with pepper sprays by Israeli settlers.

Note: PCHR keeps the names of the injured persons in the aforementioned demonstrations.

Rubber-coated metal bullets are lethally if they hit the head of victim from a close range.

Continued closure of the oPt

Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.

Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.

Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, is designated for the movement of goods

At approximately 09:00, on Monday, 18 April 2016, Israeli forces stationed in Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, north of the Gaza Strip, arrested a Palestinian patient, Mahmoud Sa’id al-‘Abed Abu Foul (19), from Jabalia refugee camp, after he was summoned for a security interview at the abovementioned crossing. It should be mentioned that Abu Foul was wounded during clashes erupted with Israeli forces on 09 October 2015, east of al-Shuja’iya neighborhood, east of Gaza City in protest at the Israeli violations against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Jeursalem. At that time, Abu Foul was hit with a live bullet to the left leg, cutting his tendons and arteries. He completed all the needed procedures for treatment abroad. On 15 October 2016, Abu Foul obtained a medical referral to al-Najah University Hospital in Nablus, where he underwent a surgery and then returned to the Gaza Strip. Mahmoud’s family recently noticed changes in the operated leg as its natural color turned into red and then to black. As a result, his family immediately completed all the procedures needed to refer him again to al-Najah Hospital. On 18 April 2016, Mahmoud obtained a new appointment. However, on Sunday, 17 April 2016, the Medical Coordination Officers informed the family that their request was rejected. On the same day evening, the family received another call from an unknown number telling them that Mahmoud has a security interview at the crossing on Monday, 18 April 2016. Mohamed then headed to Beit Hanoun crossing and did not return back.

West Bank

Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians:

Hebron: Israeli forces established (17) checkpoints all over the city.

On Thursday, 14 April 2016, Israeli forces established four checkpoints at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp; the southern entrance to Halhoul village; the southern entrance to Hebron (al-Fahes); and the northern entrance to Yatta village.

On Friday, 15 April 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints at the entrance to Tarama village; the western entrance to Hebron (Farsh al-Hawa) and the eastern entrance to Dura village.

On Saturday, 16 April 2016, Israeli forces established four checkpoints at the entrance to al-‘Aroyb refugee camp; the southern entrance to Halhoul village; the southern entrance to Hebron (al-Fahes); and the northern entrance to Yatta village.

On Sunday, 17 April 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints at the entrances to Beit ‘Awaa and al-Fawar refugee camp, and the northern entrance to Yatta village.

On Tuesday, 19 April 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints at the entrances to Ethna, Sa’ir and al-Karmel villages.

Ramallah and al-Bireh: Israeli forces established (6) checkpoints all over the village.

On Thursday, 14 April 2016, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the northern entrance to ‘Ain Sina village, north of Ramallah, and under the bridge of Yabroud village, northeast of the city.

On Friday, 15 April 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints at the entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah; at the intersection of Beit ‘Ur al-Foqa village; and under the bridge of Kherbitha al-Mosbah, southwest of the city.

At approximately 18:00, on Saturday, 16 April 2016, Israeli forces established similar checkpoint at the intersection of Beit ‘Ur al-Foqa village, southwest of the city.

Qalqiliya: Israeli forces established (6) checkpoints all over the city.

On Friday, 15 April 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints between Hejah and al-Fondoq villages; at the entrance to ‘Azoun village, and under the bridge of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilyia.

On Sunday, 17 April 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints near al-Nabi Iyaas village; and at the entrance to ‘Ezbit al-Tabeeb village, east of Qalqilyia, and it was established again on the same day.

Tulkarm: At approximately 14:00, on Thursday, 14 April 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and other villages located in the north of Tulkarm known as (al-Sha’rawiya) near the entrance to al-Jaroshiya village, north of Tulkarm.

At approximately 19:30, on Friday, 16 April 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and other villages located in the north of Tulkarm known as (al-Sha’rawiya) near the entrance to Qufeen village, north of Tulkarm.

At approximately 20:00, on Saturday, 17 April 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between ‘Ezabet Shofah and Shofah villages, southeast of Tulkarm.

At approximately 09:00, on Monday, 18 April 2016, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint, which was established on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened their arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians and obstructed their movement. At approximately 16:00, on the same day, Israeli forces repeated their arbitrary measures.

At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and other villages located in the north of Tulkarm known as (al-Sha’rawyia) near the intersection of ‘Alar and ‘Ateel villages, north of Tulkarm.

Jenin: At approximately 18:00, on Thursday, 14 April 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Bier al-Basha and al-Shuhada villages, south of Jenin. Israeli forces deployed in the road sides and stopped and searched the vehicles travelling in both directions. They withdrew later and no events were reported.

At approximately 10:30, on Friday, 16 April 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Jenin and Nablus, near the intersection of ‘Oraba village, south of Jenin. At approximately 14:30, on Saturday, 17 April 2016, and at approximately 17:30, on Monday, 18 April 2016, Israeli forces re-established the same checkpoint at the abovementioned intersection.

At approximately 15:00, on Saturday, 17 April 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of al-Yamoun village, north of Jenin.

Arrests at military checkpoints

At approximately 16:00, on Thursday, 14 April 2016, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint established on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened their arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians and obstructed their movement. The Israeli soldiers stationed behind cement cubes placed at the checkpoint stopped the vehicles travelling from and into Tulkarm, and checked the passengers’ IDs. While ‘Izz al-Deen Yousef Zuhdi Frihat (22), from al-Yamoun village, north of Jenin, was crossing the checkpoint coming back from his university, Israeli forces arrested him.

At approximately 18:00 on the same day, Israeli forces stationed at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Tareq Hassan al-Kouni (24), from Nablus while he was crossing the checkpoint in his private car along with his friends. Israeli soldiers stopped al-Kouni’s car, arrested him, but released his friends.

At approximately 10:00, on Monday, 18 April 2016, Israeli forces arrested Khalid Mohammed Salah (38), from Bethlehem, while he was working in Abu al-Humus Valley in Soubaher village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of having no permit.

At approximately 17:00, on Tuesday, 19 April 2016, Israeli forces patrolling in the vicinity of the annexation wall established on paelstinian lands, west of Zaboubah village, northwest of Jenin, raided a house belonging to Ahmed Mahmoud Mobdi Maqaldah (23). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination. The aforementioned civilian was arrested in his family agricultural land adjacent to the annexation wall.

At approximately 07:30, on Wednesday, 20 April 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of Bazariya village, east of Tulkarm. Israeli forces stopped vehicles travelling in both directions and checked the passengers’ IDs. They then arrested Majd ‘Ataa Mohammed Ali (21), from Safareen village, east of Tulkarm, while crossing the checkpoint heading to his university in Jenin.

Israeli forces arrest Palestinian Patient from Rafah at a checkpoint in Jenin

At approximately 13:30, on Thursday, 14 April 2016, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian patient namely Yousef Younis Mohammed Yunis (19), from Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah at a checkpoint at the intersection of ‘Arabah village, south of Jenin. Yousef’s father said to a PCHR’s fieldworker that his son has suffered from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) for two years and underwent a surgery after obtaining a medical referral to al-Najah Hospital in Nablus on 14 April 2016. The abovementioned patient along with his mother, Basemah Ahmed Ibrahim Younis, headed to the hospital and since day one he arrived he underwent many tests and checkups by the doctors there. At approximately 13:30 on the aforementioned Thursday, when Yousef returned from the hospital to his residence place, Israeli forces stopped the car traveling Yousef and his mother and immediately arrested him. Yousef’s father said that his wife contacted a lawyer in the Ministry of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, and he told her that her son, Yousef is in the Ashkelon prison.

Efforts to Create Jewish majority

Israeli forces escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property. They have also continued their raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and denied the Palestinians access to it:

Collective Punishment

On Friday morning, 20 April 2016, thousands of Israeli soldiers accompanied with 40 military jeeps, an armoured vehicle and a bulldozer moved into Qalandiya refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, from all entrances. They patrolled in the streets and stationed in al-Jabal area and the vicinity of Omer mosque. They then raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Husain Abu Ghush and demolished the house walls. In the meantime, dozens of Palestinians gathered around the house and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers who immediately fired live bullets and rubber-coated metal bullets in response. As a result, 3 civilians were hit with live bullets and then transferred to Palestine Medical Complex while 5 others were hit with metal bullets and received treatment on the scene. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested Hasan Sajediyah (19) and harshly beaten him though he was hit with a metal bullet to his leg.

Moreover, Israeli forces killed Abu Gosh’s son aged 17 after he and Ibrahim Ellan (22) carried out a stabbing in “Beit Horon” settlement, west of Ramallah. The attack resulted then in the death of the Israeli settler Shlomit Kreczman and the injury of another settler. It should be noted that Abu Gosh house is located on the third floor of a 4-storey building. The house consists of 4 rooms where Husain and his 6 brothers used to live.

Arrests and Incursions

At approximately 00:00 on Thursday, 14 April 2016, Israeli forces moved into Salwan village, south of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem. They deployed in Bir Ayoub and Ein al-Lawzah neighbourhoods and raided several houses during which they excessively fired sound bombs. They then arrested Diaa’ Baidoun (23) and Ibrahim Siam (23), beaten them and took them to an unknown destination.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of the Old City in occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested 6 elderly people and took them to “al-Qishla” police station in West Jerusalem. The arrested civilians were identified as Eid Awad Samarin (70), Methqal Fayez al-Qaq (70), Omar Abed Samarin (59) Taher Salah Arafah (63), Mousa al-Joulani (63) and Tawfeq Ghaith (60).

At approximately 03:00, on the same day, Israeli forces raided and searched several neighbourhoods in Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested 7 civilians and took them to “al-Qishla” police station in West Jerusalem. The arrested civilians were identified as Atiyah Naem Syouri (60), Mostafa Mohammed al-Salfeti (67), Omar Hasan (45), Rebhi Ghushah (63), Anwar al-Rajbi (62), Sofian Jadallah (50) and Akram al-Shurafa (45).

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Hanenah neighbourhood, north of Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested 3 elderly people and took them to “al-Qishla” police station in West Jerusalem. The arrested civilians were identified as Nabel al-Sharif (70), Adel Abu Ermelah (68) and Omar ‘Ebedo (60).

On Thursday morning, Israeli forces raided the Palestinian National Theatre (al-Hakawati) and handed its administration a decision to close it for one day under the pretext of organizing an event sponsored by the Palestinian Authority (PA) without permission. The decision signed by the Israeli Internal Security Minister Gilad Arden stated that “any event to be held in the Palestinian Theatre sponsored by the PA should be organized upon permission or a letter according to Article 3 (A) of the Oslo Accords concerning the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (Law of identifying activities) 1994.” Arden also gave an order to prevent holding the activity in any other place of the city. It should be noted that a concluding ceremony of the project “Apprenticeship for the graduates of vocational and technical training in Jerusalem – Youth Employment Services (YES)” was supposed to be held at Al-Hakawati. Moreover, handicraft items made by Jerusalemite females were supposed to be exhibited in Al-Hakawati hall.

At approximately 04:00 on Friday, 15 April 2016, Israeli forces moved into Bab Hittah neighbourhood, which is one of the Old city neighbourhoods in occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested Ghaith Ayman Abu Haidar (23) and Mohammed Anwar Sharifah (22).

At approximately 08:00 on Friday, Nour Abu Hadwan (16) and Saif al-Tawel (16) turned themselves in to al-Ramlah prison upon an Israeli court ruling after they served their 9-month house arrest sentence for each. It should be mentioned that on Thursday, 14 April 2016, the Israeli District court held a hearing for the 2 children in which the judge ordered them to turn themselves in to al-Ramlah prison in order to bring them to trial. Abu Hadwan and al-Tawel are among 10 Jerusalemite children from Beit Hanenah neighbourhood, north of the city, who were arrested in June 2015 and were released after two weeks of investigation on condition that they spend their house arrest period. During the past months, the children were denied access to school and their rights to the freedom of movement and medical treatment. Moreover, their families were exposed to daily house raids by the Israeli intelligence service to make sure the 2 children were serving their house arrest. It should be mentioned that on 10 April 2016, 4 of the 10 children turned themselves in to al-Ramlah prison to spend their sentences.

At approximately 19:00 on the same Friday, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Esawiyah village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, from the eastern entrance. They stationed in Hosh Obaid while firing rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. As a result, an old woman suffered tear gas inhalation while at home. They then arrested Shadi Samir Obaid (23).

At approximately 01:00 on Saturday, 16 April 2016, Israeli forces moved into Wadi al-Jawouz neighbourhood, west of the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem. They deployed in al-Maqdesi street and then moved into Shams Eiden al-Asyouti street. They raided a number of houses nearby and then arrested Jehad Sa’edah, Fahed al-Shalabi and Aren al-Za’anin.

At approximately 21:00 on Monday, 18 April 2016, Israeli forces moved into Shu’fat neighbourhood, north of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses looking for stone throwers. Israeli soldiers then arrested Naser Abu Khdair (14), Bader Abu Khdair (15) and Yazan Abu Khdair (14).

At approximately 23:00 on the same Monday, Israeli forces moved into Qalandiya refugee camp, north of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Nabhan Mostafa Nabhan (22) and then arrested him.

At approximately 01:00 on Tuesday, 19 April 2016, Israeli forces moved into Ras al-Amoud neighbourhood, east of the Old in occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Yahia Sahms Eiden Baitar. They then arrested his wife Halah (19) and confiscated some of their belongings.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Sa’diyah neighbourhood, one of the Old city neighbourhoods in occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested Mahmoud Awsha’ Mona (20) and his cousin Ahmed Talal Mona (19).

At approximately 23:00 on Thursday, 19 April 2016, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Esawiyah village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, from all entrances and closed the village. They prevented the residents from entering or exiting the village without reason, in the meantime a Helicopter and a thermal balloon provided with cameras flied over the village. After midnight, Israeli forces moved into all neighbourhoods and raided several houses while continued to close the village until next day morning. They also maltreated the inhabitants during the house raids, damaged the houses’ contents and used verbally insulted children. Moreover, they handed summonses to dozens of civilians for interrogation.

Mohammed al-Hummus, member of the Follow-up Committee in al-‘Esawiyah village, said that Israeli forces handed more than 20 youngsters summonses to investigate them in the Israeli police stations. He also mentioned that they confiscated 2 vehicles. They also fixed posters to shops and walls warning against the so-called “incitement wave led by Hamas Movement and anti-discipline acts”.

House demolitions and demolition notices:

On Friday morning, 15 April 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with the occupation municipality crews moved into several neighbourhoods in Selwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem. They distributed administrative demolition orders in the village, after they took photos of some neighbourhoods and entrances in addition to houses and facilities.

An eyewitness said that the Israeli municipality crews fixed a demolition order on a house in al-Bustan neighbourhood in the village. The house residents said that the demolition order was issued against an unknown woman which reflects the random decisions and demolition orders issued by the Israeli authorities.

They also handed Abdul Karem Shauokhi a demolition order to his commercial facility which is a car wash. Shauokhi said, “The municipality crews raided the facility and fixed a demolition order and took photos of the facility, workers and vehicles. They also checked IDs of the workers. It should be noted that 3 families make out their living from this commercial facility.

On Saturday morning, 16 April 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with municipality crews moved into Silwan village, south of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem. They distributed 18 demolition notices in al-Bustan neighbourhood in the village and took photos of a number of other neighbourhoods and streets.

Fakhri Abu Diab, a member of the Defence Committee of Salwan lands, said that Israeli forces raided the village for the second consecutive time and handed a number of families administrative demolition notices. It should be noted that the notified houses were years ago and their owners have been paying construction fines to the municipality.

Yassin al-Rajabi said that Israeli forces handed him a demolition order for his house that was built 20 years ago and is inhabited by 8 members. It should be mentioned al-Rajabi house consists of 4 rooms. Moreover, Israeli forces ordered him to remove the poster of his son, who is a former prisoner, and threatened to arrest him. Mohammed Halesi stated that Israeli forces handed him an administrative demolition notice for his 110-square-meter house that consists of 3 rooms was built in November 2014.

Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

Israeli forces’ attacks:

At approximately 06:30, on Thursday, 14 April 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with a military jeep from the Israeli Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Civil Administration, and bulldozer moved into East Barta’a village, west of Jenin. They surrounded two different facilities belonging to Basem Fathi Wajeeh ‘Amarna (34) and Mostafa Khadir Fares Qabha (47). In the meantime, dozens of civilians gathered in the area to prevent the Israeli forces from demolishing the facilities and threw stones at them. Israeli force fortified in their vehicles directly fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the stone-throwers to disperse them. As a result, one of protesters was directly hit with a tear gas canister (PCHR keeps his name) and then taken to Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin to receive medical treatment. Israeli forces also arrested Hasan ‘Adnan Mustafa Qabha (23) and demolished the two facilities.

At approximately 08:00, on the same day, Israeli forces accompanied with a military jeep from the Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Civil Administration,, and a GCB bulldozer moved into Abu Sawadah area, east of al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. The bulldozer demolished an 80-cubic-meter water well allegedly for having no permit

Recommendations to the International Community

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.

In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the latest 51-day offensive against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:

PCHR calls upon the international community and the United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine;

PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;

PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;

PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned committees;

PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;

PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;

PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;

PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute;

PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights;

PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel it to remove them;

PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian infrastructure;

PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;

PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations and crimes against Palestinian civilians;

AL-KHALIL, (PIC)– Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Suwaiti has been on hunger strike for 10 days in protest at not allowing him to see his family, according to the Palestinian Prisoner Center for Studies. Suwaiti started his hunger strike on April 12 after the prison administration prevented his wife and children, for alleged security reasons, from visiting him in jail. Suwaiti’s elder son said that Shin Bet officers at al-Dahiryai checkpoint barred him from visiting his father six times. The prisoner has been in detention since the first of February 2007, serving a prison term of 22 and a half years. Recently, he was transferred to an isolation cell in Ramon jail after he refused to undergo medical tests in Soroka hospital. In a new development, the Israeli prison service has decided to respond to the demands of Palestinian prisoners in Nafha jail to avoid further escalation of the tension there. According to the local radio station al-Asra on Wednesday, the administration of Nafha jail will allow the prisoners to spend breaktimes in the prison yard without police escort and will end its previous and recent restrictions and measures against them.

Leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party MK Avigdor Lieberman has called for the assassination of Hamas leaders and senior commanders of Al-Qassam Brigades should they refuse to release three Israelis and the bodies of two soldiers, Masralarabia.com reported yesterday.

Speaking during a visit to the Israeli settlement of Sderot, Leiberman said: “We must be clearer… we have to inform Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Marwan Issa and Ismail Haniyeh to start preparing their coffins if they do not release the Israelis in their hands as well as the bodies of the two soldiers captured during ‘Operation Protective Edge’.”

The comments came during a conference held to discuss the threat of Palestinian tunnels which pass under the Gaza-Israel border. “In the past few days, the issue of the tunnels has been widely discussed and I have nothing to add. But the difference between me and the other speakers is that I have been warning since ‘Protective Edge’.”

“I would like to quote the Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs at the Ministry of Defence Amos Gilad, who is credible. He said: ‘Hamas intend to occupy a settlement or two or three or a full city in order to carry out carnage.’”

“I hope this nightmare does not come true, but hopes are not enough. We have to work very quickly in order to change a lot of things regarding the increasing threats against Israel, which are coming from the Gaza Strip.”

Lieberman said that Hamas had “initiated” everything in the past and “we only act in response to its initiatives.” He added: “Hamas is always before us. I say we do not have to ignore the development of its rockets. We saw its technological abilities as it intercepted our drones and the computer networks of Ben Gurion Airport.”

The former Israeli foreign minister rejected the idea of building a seaport under international supervision in Gaza “because Hamas is immediately going to start smuggling weapons… The issue of the seaport is an escape from the reality.”

He said that the time had come to replace Hamas in Gaza. “I do not mean Abbas of Dahlan because both were there and they lost.”

Lieberman criticised making Qatar a mediator between Israel and Hamas instead of Turkey, Egypt and the international peace envoy.

To hit Hamas hard, he called for distorting it throughout setting up a special TV channel and news sites targeting it and disseminating negative news about the group in order to “poison the minds” of the Gazans.

President of the Syrian Coalition Anas al-Abdah said that any proposal for a solution in Syria that does not guarantee the departure of Assad at the beginning of the transitional period would be doomed to fail and is lacking in credibility.

A meeting between the Syrian Coalition and Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Helga Schmid in Istanbul earlier today discussed the latest developments in the political process and the challenges facing the Geneva negotiations.

President Abdah reaffirmed support for the position the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) took in light of the lack of seriousness on the part of the Assad regime. He warned of the consequences resulting from the continued breaches of the truce by the Assad regime and its allies.

Abdah referred to the fact that not a single blockade on the besieged areas has been lifted, nor has progress been made in the file of detainees in Assad’s prisons since the truce took effect in January 27.

Abdah pointed out that the opposition’s decision to suspend participation in the Geneva negotiations can be seen as an opportunity for the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to review the course of negotiations and develop mechanisms in order to avoid the collapse of the negotiations in Geneva.

Schmid reiterated the European Union’s support for the Syrian opposition and the demands of the Syrian revolution, stressing the EU commitment to supporting the political process until a political transition is put in place.

Schmid pointed out that the EU still insists on accountability and ending killing in Syria, adding that the EU fully supports the Syrian people’s right to self-determination. She also said that the EU refuses attempts by others to determine Syria’s future, and that the interests of the Syrian people must be represented in any future solution.